Asked for termination. Employer refused and asked me to stay. Should I get out.

I started a new job three weeks ago. From day one it was a bad experience. They didn't know where I would sit, have a computer, email, or any idea how to train me. I read manuals for one week all day. I read manuals for the first week at another job, but they gave me other things to do along with reading so it wasn’t that bad. I proposed things to work on that didn't require a computer but would give me a break from reading all day. They let me work with the assemblers, but that lasted only 2 hours. By the second week they found a loaner PC. They asked me to do online training. I tried, but the computer was so slow and old and kept popping up errors during the training program. My manager admitted that he knew that I wouldn’t be able to complete the assignment. Eventually I was back to the reading and still had no introductory assignments. By Friday of the second week I completed reading the manual. My supervisor was off of work on Friday. I asked him for work, before he left. He gave me a computer file to work on. When I went to opened it, it had an error and could not get into it. I asked my co-worker for work and my managers manager for work. They told me to just wait because it would be coming. I had nothing to do all day and felt like a zombie at the end of the day. The games continued into the third week. I got a very bad cold and couldn't take it. By Wednesday I went to my manager and told him I didn't decide to quit working, but he did by not giving me any work. I asked him to now follow through and terminate my employment so I could find a company with work. I didn't want to quit because I would not get unemployment insurance and didn’t feel that I should lose my benefits due to their decisions. After talking he said he wanted me to stay on board and appreciated how direct I was with him. The next morning I had some introductory assignments and computer.

Did I make a huge mistake going back to this company? Thanks.

Are you being paid? With so many people out of work now, you are lucky to have a paycheck and no work.

If you are really that unhappy, why not look for a new job until they give you something to do? Unemployment is pretty meager ($125 per week here) and I hope you are making more than that.

I hate to say this, because I normally say to rebel against bad experiences, but as someone out of work, it REALLY is a bad time to be unemployed. I know it is difficult but I would look for a job while keeping your current one.

Thank you for the feedback. The economy has gotten much worse since I wrote this and I really don't have any option but to stay and work. There are virtually no jobs in my field listed. I haven't been working that long, but it really is sickening seeing what these companies do to their employees.